Čekanje u redu - Queuing
David writes,
Tamara and I are tweaking the newsletter each week to try and make it better.
We are now putting our Videos onto Vimeo before distributing on YouTube later.
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The videos should play straight from the newsletter without the need for any apps etc. Please let us know if that's not the case for you.
Thanks.
Thanks to Brian, Paul, Martin and Dai for getting in touch this week, great to hear from you.
Weather.
What a week we've had. Sun, Rain, Sun, Rain. You get the picture.
These changes in weather are quite steep and the change in air pressure equally rapid. We can go from a scorching hot, blazingly sunny moment, to dark clouds, cold and almost gale force winds in a heartbeat.
Frightening and stunning at the same time. Tamara's constant fear is that the roof gets ripped off.
A biproduct of all this means though, constantly shifting mood swings for me. I have actually started to wonder if I am a mild Manic Depressive.
Tamara copes very well I have to say.
Busy in the garden.
Time for planting Tomatoes and Bell Peppers.
Highlights of the Week.
Visiting the Big Pijaca in Banja Luka.
Located next to the main railway station, it is a MUST visit. Banja Luka residents might say it's not a place for travellers (tourists) to visit, but I think it shows a very human side to the city. Sunday mornings at around 0700 is the best time. The early start is worth it. Almost every thing is for sale. For British readers, think "farmers market meets car boot". If you want a bargain, it's there. Oh! and there are a good few places to sit, drink pivo or rakija, or eat, and just people watch.
Eggs Benedict in Banja Luka. Well, who would have thought?
Getting a “Collectible”. Living History, without a doubt. I’ll let you know how it plays/sounds.
History.
May 9th is celebrated across Bosnia and Herzegovina and the wider region as the end of the war against fascism in 1945.
#lestweforget
Smrt fašizmu - sloboda narodu!
Cultural Awareness 101.
The Subtle art of queueing in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The past few weeks I haven't felt quite my best. Nothing to worry about to be honest.
But.
I have had to visit my family doctor, and she's wanted me to have certain tests.
In this COVID world, the medical support services (particularly in the Banja Luka area), have quickly organised everything so social safety is looked after. That means a little more control, so there is less time for people to mingle within medical facilities.
Basically we queue (line up) a lot.
Queueing takes patience. And time.
It seems "queue jumpers" are an occupational hazard here.
You would think that having been in line for nearly an hour that I would be mildly irritated at someone that brazenly pushed in at the front. But I'm not.
For some reason I find it all quite amusing to watch the reaction of others in the line.
The use of language against these arrogant people is creative to say the least. For those readers that understand the language that once was "serbo-croatian", you'll be smiling now for sure.
Travelling.
Bosnia and Herzegovina is on most Amber lists. So what do you need to come and visit?
At the moment (and things can change in a heartbeat as we all know too well), foreigners entering the country need a recent valid PCR test or proof of full vaccination. No quarantine or isolation. For travelling on further or returning home, the main Health Centre (at least here in Banja Luka), offers daily commercial PCR testing by appointment. Present cost is €75 per person. Results by email within a few hours.
Climbing in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Some years ago now, I found out about climbing, and how Bosnia and Herzegovina is such a virgin area for climbers, who are now coming from all over the world, to the hidden gem, that is this country. David Lemmerer was the catalyst for this. You can read more in my blogpost.
Balkan Colours, from Banja Luka, has published “Back to The Roots”. A highly professional magazine about climbing.
To see what Bosnia and Herzegovina has to offer in the extreme sports realm, then click on the button below. It’s a FREE read by the way!
What we’re watching:
Another masterpiece from Turkey. NO. It’s not your standard Turkish Soap Opera Style!
Foodie Pic.
Polenta with nettles and sour cream
A Recommendation.
To try and stay as safe as possible online, I use Duck Duck Go as my browser. The name might sound a bit weird but it deletes all your tracking info etc when you finish your online session.
Nothing I think provides total protection but I use Duck Duck Go and a VPN (express VPN). So far so good. Maybe this might work for you?
That's our update from our village here in the north of Bosnia and Herzegovina for this week.
We hope you like our new way of creating our weekly newsletter.
We hope you'll continue to follow our adventures, and to engage with questions and comments.
We are always so excited when we receive them, AND, we reply to every single one.
PLEASE, do stay safe wherever you are
My first encounter of Bosnian queuing came when I was trying to buy two coach tickets in Mostar. I was just about to ask the attendant if they spoke English when this person appeared stage left, and with the swish of a cape, they were getting served before me.
Perhaps if I had known more than a handful of Serbo Croat words, I would have remonstrated with them. But, arguing in English was never going to work 😁
I skim read that edition and will re-visit later tonight as a few interesting titbits...... yesterday I took Bisera to Jajce to walk around the bridge area of the town with a few piccies in AVNOJ ulica and a prior lunch in Motel Plaza on Plivska Jezero ... it was our best trip out this lat year (that didn't involve others such as family) we have a new (15 year old lol) car a KIA Sorento which needed a run out and ended doing 225km round trip through Mliniste to Mrkonjic Grad (what a blissful route) coming back via Donji Vakuf, Bugojno, Kupreska vrata (not a blissful route ... I had over 400 pictures to try top and tail .. managed a few before hitting the sack and will re-engage later tonight ... DURING THE ROUND TRIP I stopped on the inter entity line (at Mliniste) like I had back in a UN vehicle in 2001 to take a similar Piccie and it looks quite good ... I shall try email you the 2 versions .... so all in all a great day David & Tamara